At the first light of dawn on Wednesday morning, our school whānau gathered to bless our new learning space at the top of Tui. This dawn blessing honoured our whenua, our mana whenua;Te Kawerau ā Maki, and the tikanga we uphold as a learning community grounded in respect and connection.

It was a deeply meaningful moment in our school’s journey – a spiritual transition from the realm of darkness and potential (te pō) into the world of light and purpose (te ao mārama). As the sun rose, we acknowledged the awakening of this space, ready now to fulfil its purpose as a place of learning, gathering, and growth for our tamariki.

This building, originally gifted by Pinehurst School and beautifully restored by Woodview Construction, now stands renewed as a whare of mana and mauri, where knowledge will be shared and relationships will flourish.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Whaea Turantia Tipene, Demian Shaver, Matua Anthony Helmhout, Whaea Irene Liu, Whaea Trish Ripi, and the Tūturu whānau for their leadership, guidance, and wairua in bringing this occasion to life. It was a special event that united us in aroha, purpose, and gratitude as a new chapter in the evolving story of Albany Junior High School.